Swan reported in November, 2022 that research has shown how a Permanent Space Infrastructure would enable massive movement of cargo to GEO and beyond in a safe, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, daily and routine way – thus transforming the approach for humanity to escape Earth’s gravity.
Objectives will be met when 30,000 tonnes reach GEO and beyond each year – at initial operational capability (170,000 at full operational capability). This transformation of lunar logistics support will be similar to moving from small boats crossing a large river to a permanent infrastructure – a bridge. This transformation results from inherent Space Elevator strengths:
1) daily, routinely, safely, inexpensively,
2) transforming the economics towards an infrastructure with access to more valuable, lucrative, stable and reliable investments,
3) massive movement (Initial Operational Capability at 30,000 tonnes/yr and Full Operational Capability 170,000 tonnes/yr),
4) high velocity release (starting at 7.76 km/sec at an altitude of 100,000 kms) enables rapid transits to the Moon (14 hours),
5) a Green Road to Space ensures environmentally neutral operations,
6) elimination of rocket fairing design limitations, and
7) assembly at the Top of the Gravity Well.
The author concluded that during the research over the last few years, it has become clear that the access to space requires a strategy of Dual Space Access Architecture to ensure the strengths of both are leveraged for the phenomenal missions being planned. Rockets will be the principle mover of humans for the foreseeable future; while Space Elevators leverage theirs characteristics to move heavy cargo daily.
Two things are important to keep in mind with this remarkable concept of Dual Space Access Architecture:
1. The Space Elevator community admires the remarkable progress being implemented within the rocket arena. Reusability, reliability, and redundancy with significant increase in launch pace are all remarkable. However, we must remember that the shortfalls of the basic concept associated with the rocket equation allows only 4% of pad mass to reach LEO, 2% to GEO or lunar insertion, with only 0.5% to any surface (Mars or Moon). The new strengths of rockets are remarkable; however, the rocket equation can not be beaten.
2. The Space Elevator permanent space access infrastructure is called the Green Road to Space because it raises payloads with electricity and does not leave debris behind – 70% of the tether climber is payload while the other 30% is reusable.
With these two realizations, the combining of the capabilities to fulfill future missions such as support to the Lunar Village, delivery of 3,000,000 tonnes to GEO for space solar power missions, delivery of 1,000,000 tonnes to Mars to support human settlements, and all the historic missions that will be expanded as they have “easier”. This Dual Space Access Strategy leverages the strengths of both capabilities to raise payloads to orbit and beyond – including the lunar surface. Indeed, Space Elevators, supporting the Moon Village, will be remarkable in that they will be:
• Transformational in how things get to space and support operations
• Dual Space Access Architecture will leverage the strengths of rockets and Space Elevators
• Green: lifts payloads with electricity and enables Space Solar Power satellites to GEO with a timely schedule
• Closer – as Space Elevators have entered engineering development
• An economic boom as regions open up for commerce because of their routine, daily, and massive lift capabilities.
• Assembly at the top of the gravity well will allow storage, repair, assembly, and timely release of large space systems for any mission, including Astronaut rescue.
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